Electrolytic cell.



G. w. STONE. ELECTROLYTIC QELL. APPLICATION FILED 11, 13.13, 1911.RENEWED JULY 15', 1913.

1,075,609. Patented Oct. 14,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. W. sTONE. ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED MAIL-6, 1911. RENEWED JULY 18, 1913. 1,075,609.

Patented Oct. 14, 1.913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

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GEORGE W. STONE, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 HOOKERELECTRO- CHEMICAL COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Application filed March 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. STONE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Niagara Falls, in the .county of Niagara State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Cells,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrolytic cells, andparticularly diaphragm cells intended primarily for the electrolysis ofalkali chlorids.

One object of the invention is the provision of a construction whereinthe cathode chambers are securely heldin position and alinenient duringoperation, yet may be very quickly removed for the purpose of,

of cleaning or changthe attaching means being such as to avoid allliability offailure through the corrosion of screw-threads or otherdelicate parts.

The invention further provides a cellbody having a base andupwardly-extending end members, hereinafter referred to as a U-shapedbody, said body being usually of concrete or cement composition,provided with an interior lining impervious and inert to the electrolyteor the anode products of electrolysis, and provided further with anexternal reinforcing frame of metal to which the metal sides, carryingthe cathodes,

ing the diaph agms,

are secured by means of wedges, cams, or.

equivalent devices.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, wherein the present improvements are illustratedas applied to an electrolytic cell of the type employing a permeablediaphragm.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cell, parts beingbroken away to disclose the interior construction; Fig.

2 is a vertical section of the same in two different planes, the leftside of the figure being a substantially central section, and the rightside a section intermediate the ends and center: and Fig. 3 is a similarsectional view of a slightly modified construction.

In said drawings, 1 represents a U-shaped body preferably. constructedof concrete or cementpomposition. For cells of large dimensions,and-.moreparticularly for cells of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14,1913.

1911, Serial No. 612,477. Renewed July 18, 1913. Serial No. 779,874.

great length, it is desirable or necessary that this body should beprovided with external metallic reinforcing or supporting members, suchfor example as a metallic casing shown at 2 in Fig. 2, or a system ofangle-bars securely bolted together as shown at 20 in Fig. 3. Owing tothe more or less permeable character of the concrete, it is inevitablethat under ordinary conditions there should be some leakage of currentto the reinforcing members, resulting, according to whether such membersare anodic or cathodic, either in their rapid corrosion or in suchaccumulation of caustic inthe concrete body as will not only seriouslyweaken and ultimately destroy it, but will also impair the efficiency ofthe cell by diffusing back intothe central or anode compartment, as wellas leading to other irregularities of operation. These difliculties areobviated in the present construction by providing a substantiallyimpervious interior lining or facing for the concrete body. In

the construction illustrated this lining com-" prises slabs 3 of slateor other suitable material set in asphaltum or thelike and covering thebottom and sides of the interior face of the body.

Plates which may be of slate, reinforced concrete or the like, extendbetween the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped body on each sidethereof, and having their outer faces flush therewith, and support acover 6 which may be of concrete or other plastic cast in place. Or ifpreferred these side plates may be of metal, as illustrated at 4:,covered interiorly with, a suitable insulating composition 5 whichisresistant to the electrolyte; for this purpose hard rubber, v

vulcanized to the metal may be employed. The plates 4 may be secured attheir ends to the upwardly extending arms of the U- shaped body, as bymeans of bolts 4:.

7, 7 represent plates of, graphite serving as anodes, said platessecured by graphite pins or plugs 8 to graphite leading-in rods or bars9. The weight of the means of anodes may be supported by blocks 10 ofslate 'or other suitable material resting on v The recessed sides orcathode-chambers 11 of the cell may be of steel or cast iron. Thecathodes 12 of perforated sheet-metal extend across the recessedportions of these chambers, and are preferably riveted or otherwisefirmly united to themI- When the .cell is assembled the cathodes areoverlaid by diaphragms 28, of asbestos paper or cloth or other suitablematerial. The cathode chambers may be closed with the exception ofapertures 14 for the escape'of hydrogen, as illustrated in Fig. 2; orthey may be open at the top as illustrated in Fig. 3. In this latterconstruction the upper margins of the cathodes are riveted or other- 15wise secured to a transverse bar or vertical flange 13 which forms apart of the cathodechamber, and in case of a cast metal cathodechambermay be integral therewith. Exteriorly, the cathode-chambers may beprovided with suitable bosses 29 for attachment to the cathode leads.The anode leads are secured to the tops of the graphite leading-in rods9 in any suitable manner;

Each cathode chamber may also be provided with a central pocket 15 soplaced that the caustic liquor will drain freely into it, this pocketbeing provided with a glass indicating t-ube 16 by means of which thelevel of the caustic liquor may be observed. 17 is a tube affordingaccess to the indicating-tube "16 for the purpose of cleaning. Thisarrangement is employed when a liquid, as a mineral oil, is present inthe lateral compartments for the purposes described in U. S. Patent No.779,383, issued January 3, 1905, to C. P. Townsend. In such case thelevel of the caustic liquor in the pocket 15 may be automaticallycontrolled by the provision of upwardly inclined, adjustable, causticout-- 4 flow pipes 18, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The means for securing the cathode-chambers in operative positionconstitute an essential part of the present invention. I-Ieretoforethese chambers have been secured di- 4 rectly to the cell body either bythreaded bolts passing through the body of the cell, or by clampspassing around the body, or bearing upon the body, and secured bythreaded set-screws. In either case considerable time is required underthe best conditions for re- .leasing or setting the cathode-chambers,and the screw-threads are very liable to corrosion under the conditionsof operation. According to the present invention these cham- -bers aresecured by simple mechanical devices which obviate these difficulties.One construction embodyii'agg the invention is as follows: A rectangularframe of angle-bars is provided on each side of the cell and stronglybolted thereto, the interior dimensions of the frame being slightlylarger than the separable cathode-chambers. As shown, these framescomprise top and bottom members 19 and 20 and lateral members 21.

These several members are permanently scsesses the advantages ofsimplicity and cercured in place by through-bolts 22. The outwardlyextending webs of the angle-bars 19, 20 and 21 are slotted or aperturedat intervals, as indicated at 23 in Fig. 1, and into these apertures orslots devices are inserted to bear upon the cathotie-chambers and holdthem in their proper positions. Appropriately formed wedges will servethe purpose; or a cam may be substituted for the wedge, as in theconstruction illustrated. In this construction cams 21 are shown aspivotallymounted at 25 in bearings 26 carried by the outwardly extendingwebs of the several angle-bars. Thesecams are provided with shorthandles 27 by means of which they may be manipulated to exert anadjusted pressure upon the peripheral flanges of the cathode-chambers tohold them in place or to' release them at will. This constructionpostainty of operation as compared with through-bolts, clamps or similardevices, and has been found to decrease greatly the labor costs in themaintenance of the cells. Furthermore, the upper angle-bars 19 serve tostiffen and support the side plates 4, to which they may be firmlysecured by appropriate bolts or rivets, throughout their entire lengthand the construction permits these side plates to be made in severalsections if desired. These considerations are of great technical value,in that they render it quite practicable to construct cells of greatlength and ampere-capacity, utilizing the reinforced concreteconstruction above de-' 100 scribed to give the requisite strength tothe cell-body. The uniform and properly adjusted pressure applied aroundthe entire periphery renders unnecessary the use of special packing toobtain a liquidtightj oint,

the margins of the diaphragms 28 usually serving this purpose.

I claim: v v

1. In an electrolytic cell, a body of concrete having external metallicreinforcing members, said body having an anode compartment provided witha substantially nonpervious interior facing.

2. In an electrolytic cell having a U- shaped body and separablecathode-chambers, bars extending between the arms of said body, andmeans engaging said bars and cathode-chambers for retaining the latterin position.

3.111 an electrolytic cell having a U- 12 shaped body and separablecathode-chambers, side plates extending between the upper portions ofthe arms of said body, bars extending between the'arms of said body andsupporting said side plates, and means engaging said bars andcathode-chambers for retaining the latter inposition.

4 In an electrolytic cell having a U- shaped body and separablecathode-chambers, metallic frame-members secured to 1 said body andsurrounding said cathodeengaging said frame-members and cathode- 10chambers, and means engagmg sa1d framechambers for retaimng the latter1n position.

members and cathode-chambers for retain- In testimony whereof, I afiixmy signature mg the latter in position. in presence of two Witnesses.

5. In an electrolytic cell having a U- shaped body and separablecathode-cham- GEORGE STONE hers, metallic frame-members constructed ofWitnesses: angle-bars secured to said body and sur- FRANK W. SMITH,

rounding said cathode-chambers, and means E. J. REILLY, Sr.

